10-Day Philippines Countryside Holiday Package to Palawan Island & Cordillera Highlands from Manila

It’s time to make your way up to the highlands of Luzon. But first, you’ll enjoy a full day ascending Mt. Pinatubo. This active volcano is known throughout the world because of its devastating eruption back in the 90s. Its summit was destroyed, but it was replaced by a crater lake as the caldera was filled with rainwater.

Make sure to wear proper shoes as this tour day requires a bit of hiking. Your van will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the province of Tarlac. The base camp of the volcano is located in Barangay Santa Juliana. From there, you will ride a 4x4 jeep to make your way to the volcano.

You’ll be crossing Crow Valley, which has a moon-like terrain, a consequence of the massive eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. The roads are bumpy, craggy, and filled with lahar. Once you have reached the trail, you’ll climb up towards the crater lake on foot. The hike is quite easy and can be completed by beginners.

The crater lake is a far cry from the rugged terrains surrounding Mt. Pinatubo. Here, you’ll find a lake of blue and green, surrounded by lush grass and rough mountain walls. After your tour, your van will take you to your accommodation in Nueva Ecija.

Once you have checked out of your Nueva Ecija hotel, your van will take you to the province of Ifugao, in the quiet town of Banaue. The village of Batad is truly a remote one. It is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Batad Rice Terraces.

Once you have reached Batad, you have 3 options for your next destination. The first one is the Batad Banaue Viewpoint. It’s one of the best places to take in the beauty of the rice terraces. However, you’ll have to go on another 30-minute hike to reach it.

The second option is Tappiya Waterfall. This natural site isn’t as popular as the viewpoint as it is trickier to reach. You’ll go on a longer trek but you’ll get a better reward at the end. The 30m Tappiya Waterfall is a serene spot that has a natural pool you can cool off in.

The third option is Banga-an Village. This destination is the least challenging to reach but will still require a bit of walking. At Banga-an Village, you can get to meet the locals and see traditional houses.

The final attraction on the itinerary is the Banaue Museum. It has a good collection of relics and artifacts of the Igorot.

After leaving Banaue, your next destination is the town of Sagada, which is nestled in a valley of the Mountain Province. This quiet and peaceful town is well-known for its hanging coffins and its caves.

Your first stop in the area is the Sugong Cave. The water from the nearby Bokong Falls flows through the cave’s underground river and then goes to Kapay-aw’s rice fields. You’ll then walk through Echo Valley where you can spot the famous hanging coffins. According to research, this traditional burial has been practiced for thousands of years.

For your next destination, you need to be prepared for your journey. Sumaguing Cave is the largest cave in the area, however, it is quite tricky to explore. Inside the cave are steep descents, ancient rock formations, and of course, bats. There are also natural pools inside Sumaguing Cave, it is a possibility you might get wet during your spelunking.

At the Bontoc Tribal Museum, you’ll get to know more about the indigenous tribes of the mountains. You’ll get an idea of the rich culture and heritage of the area with the excellent ethnographic collection of the museum. There is even a mini-village outside the main building with replicas of tribal huts.

After a day in Sagada, you will now head to Benguet Province. It is one of the main sources of vegetables in the country, that’s why it is nicknamed the Salad Bowl of the Philippines.

To give you an idea of what Benguet has to offer, your first stop will be the expansive La Trinidad Strawberry Farm. This farm occupies 79 hectares of Benguet land and can produce over 1,000 metric tons of strawberries per year. During strawberry season, visitors can get the chance to handpick their own fruits.

At Atok Sakura Flowers, you’ll get to see real Japanese cherry blossom trees. In 2016, Japan’s Kochi Prefectures’ government gifted the Benguet Province with 34 sakura trees. The Sakura Trees were planted and will blossom yearly with white and pink sakura flowers.

Northern Blossom is a flower farm where you can view more than just colorful blooms. This tourist destination also boasts panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Your next stop is located along the Halsema Highway. It’s the spot called 2nd Highest Point, which is the country’s second-highest point in the Philippine highway system.

The short but scenic Spanish Trail is the last attraction on the itinerary. It has several tunnels or caves that you can pass through. After your tour, your van will take you to Baguio City.

Get ready for a jam-packed day of visiting historic attractions, relaxing in parks, and shopping for souvenirs. Baguio City is a popular summer destination among locals. It is home to culturally- and historically-significant spots.

Your first stop is the Ifugao Museum, which is across from the War Memorial Shrine. It has a wide range of Ifugao artifacts that include machetes used by headhunters, wooden spoons with intricate carvings, and even sacred wood figures. Baguio City was a key site during World War II. You can learn more about it at the next stop, the Surrender Site of General Yamashita.

The city is also home to other important sites, including the Philippine Military Academy, the country’s premier military institution, and The Mansion, the official summer palace of the Philippine president. At Mines View Park, you’ll find dozens of food stalls and souvenir shops. It also has a view deck that overlooks an old mining town.

The lush Wright Park is a popular spot for activities like running and jogging. It also has horseback-riding facilities. You can enjoy more of the trees and other natural sites of the city at Centennial Park.

To wrap up your Baguio Tour, you’ll make a stop at Good Shepherd Convent. This is one of the most popular shops to purchase the city’s goods, like the must-try ube jam. You’ll head back to Manila after your Baguio tour.

The next part of your tour will take place in the province of Palawan. From Manila, you’ll catch a flight to Puerto Princesa International Airport. Puerto Princesa City is the capital of Palawan. It’s a jump-off point for island-hopping tours but also has interesting attractions of its own.

For this day, you’ll be visiting the popular Honda Bay where you’ll go on an island-hopping tour. At Star Fish Island, you can spot dozens of wonderful starfishes. It’s also possible to see colorful fish underwater by snorkeling around the island.

The next attraction you’ll go to is Cowrie Island, which is named as such as it is shaped like a shell. This is the largest island in Honda Bay and it offers tourist facilities. You can have lunch on this island or even take a shower. It’s also one of the best places to go for a swim. A part of the island is surrounded by a net to make sure jellyfish won’t enter the swimming area.

The last island you’ll visit is the interesting Luli Island. This island appears and disappears depending on the water level. You’ll only be able to see it during low tide. After your tour of Honda Bay, your van will take you to your hotel in Sabang.

On Day 8 of your vacation, you’ll get to visit another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your van will pick you up from your Sabang hotel and take you to the port. From there, you will ride a boat to reach Puerto Princesa's Underground River. This national park has amazing cliffs and has a rich ecosystem. Inside the cave, you’ll find amazing rock formations and you might even see bats.

The next part of your tour will be in the city proper of Puerto Princesa. You can sample a wide variety of baked goods at the tourist-stop, Bakers Hill. Downtown, you can learn about the dark past of the city during World War II at Plaza Cuartel. This park was formerly a Spanish garrison.

You’ll meet dozens of crocodiles at the Crocodile Farm. This tourist destination also has a research center and a small zoo that houses more than just crocodiles. At Mitra’s Ranch, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Puerto Princesa. This hilltop ranch also has zip-lining and picnicking facilities.

Your last stop in the city is Puerto Princesa Baywalk. This promenade offers views of the sea and the city port. Nearby are several food stalls and souvenir shops.

It’s time to go island-hopping again but this time, it’s going to be in a quiet seaside village. From Sabang, your van will take you to San Vicente’s Port Barton. It’s harder to access than other attractions on the island and receives fewer visitors. The result is a beach paradise with pristine islands.

From Port Barton, you are going to visit a few islands and snorkeling sites via boat. The first spot you’ll visit is Inaladelan Island, which is a perfect place for beach camping. Inaladelan Island also has sports facilities, you can go kayaking or play beach volleyball.

Luli Sandbar is a fascinating destination that only appears when the tide is low. During the high tide, the sandbar disappears underneath the waters. You’ll be able to spot starfishes on Luli Sandbar.

You’ll also be able to experience an unforgettable and unique encounter at the turtle snorkeling site. Aside from being able to see a sea turtle up close, you can also swim with them. The last stop of your tour is the Fish and Coral Snorkeling site. After a full day under the sun at Port Barton, your van will take you back to Sabang.

It’s your last day in Palawan and your 10-day tour is done. Your van will pick you up from your accommodation in Sabang and take you to the airport. You will go back to Manila by catching a flight from Puerto Princesa International Airport. The travel time back to Manila shouldn’t be longer than 2 hours.